What Do You See?

It was 7 o'clock am, on an early spring and still somewhat cold Sunday morning, WHAT AM I DOING UP!

I am normally asleep at that time. I had to be up for a meeting in The City (Manhattan for those of you who don't know what "The City" is). With hood over my head, sunglasses over my eyes, earbuds in my ears, I was listening to "E2-E4" by Manuel Göttsching (a great 7am song by the way), as I walked to the subway station which was just around the corner from my home.

Still wiping the sleep from my eyes (running on about two hours of sleep, maybe less than that), I was thinking about the fact that I was just out the night earlier. There was a dance party I had to go check out, to meet people and network. My first thought was to not go, knowing I had to wake up early the following morning. But this was something that had to be done, being that I was basically relaunching my business as a DJ and music producer. I figured I would just get there early and leave early so I may get enough sleep. Of course as with the law of nature, the elements of the universe, and the will of spirits, it did not happen as planned.

I met this beautiful Afro Spanish woman while at the party. She was well versed in the Yoruba based Afro Cuban religion of Lukumi (the religion or culture in which I practice). So we talked about the Orisha (spirits of nature) as well as music throughout the night, getting dance in here and there. By the way, her guardian Orisha is Shango, my guardian Orisha is Eleggua (Eshu-Elegba). We left the party about 2:30am, I walked her to her home, and continued on to my home. Between showering, and winding down, it was a little after 4am when I got to bed.

Fast-forwarding to the present moment. I walked downstairs into the station, swiped my Metrocard, and walked through the turnstile. Waiting for the subway train to arrive, I was deep in trance as the song (E2-E4) hypnotically played, building, progressing. I turned to find a metal post in front of me. Painted, I saw this shape on the post.



The shape, catching my attention, immediately took shape, I had to photograph it. What I saw was a person in a yoga pose.



At the moment I could not think of the name of the pose (I will look it up and give the name later). But that was what I immediately saw within the shape.

Subway arrived a few seconds after taking the photograph. I made my way onto the somewhat crowed train, in transit to my destination. What I saw in the shape was how it was interpreted to me. What do you see?

Prayers (Orikis) To The Orisha of The Crossroads, Eshu-Elegba (Eleggua)

First come the Ancestors, giving homage to the ones who came before us. Our Ancestors are then followed by the Orishas, the spiritual guardians who govern the forces of nature and watch over us. Then least but not least, The Creator God Almighty, who created the universe and everything in it. Then leaving the Orishas to watch over and protect us. Sustaining our daily needs through nature as we live, learn, love, elevate.

Before favor is asked, homage is given to Eshu-Elegba, the Orisha of the crossroads. He owns all the paths, all the doors, all the roads, both in the material world, as well as the spiritual world. He is the divine messenger, to the other Orishas, and especially to God Almighty. Other spiritual paths and religions have their own spiritual equivalents to this powerful Orisha, but all roles are the same. I have a saying that I pretty much live by in regarding the many spiritual paths that are based in nature. "All Paths Lead To The Same Destination."

These are just a few of the Prayers (Orikis) to the Orisha of the crossroads, Eshu-Elegba (Eleggua in the Afro Cuban branch of "The Religion").

Prayer (Oriki) 1:


Eshu protect my family.
Protect the initiates of the Temple and me also.
Let me not be moved against the people.
Let not the people be moved against me.
Grant me long life.
Grant me peace.
Grant me elevation of my consciousness.
Grant me the ability to use my own hands.
Eshu I salute you.

Prayer (Oriki) 2:



Owner and elder of the crossroads. My father, remover all evil, for us to walk in peace, loss is no more, tragedy is no more, sickness is no more, death is no more, unforeseen evil is no more, in the name of all children in this house. I give you thanks, my father Elegba.

Prayer (Oriki) 3:




Eshu turns right into wrong, wrong into right.
When he is angry, he hits a stone until it bleeds.
When he is angry, he sits on the skin of an ant.
When he is angry, he weeps tears of blood.

Eshu slept in the house, but the house was too small for him.
Eshu slept on the verandah, but the verandah was too small for him.
Eshu slept in a nut, at last he could stretch himself.

Eshu walked through the groundnuts farm.
The tuft of his hair was just visible.
If it had not been for his huge size, he would not be visible at all.
Lying down, his head hits the roof.
Standing up, he cannot look into the cooking pot.
He throws a stone today and kills a bird yesterday.






*Pictures courtesy of the Internet.

*Prayer (Oriki) 1 taken from "The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concepts" by Baba Ifa Kayode.

*Prayers (Orikis) 2-3 taken from "Eshu-Eleggua Elegbara: Santeria and The Orisha of The Crossroads" by Baba Raul Canizares

Walking Across The Williamsburg Bridge Into Brooklyn

It was a late night, I didn't have enough money on my MTA MetroCard to take the subway. Nor did I have enough money to put on the card, yeah, it was one of those nights (had quite a few of them as of late). So I did what most in my situation would do, I walked.

Yeah I know, walking alone, late at night, no bueno. There was no need to be concerned, nor to fear. I walk with the Ancestors, I walk with the Orisha (Angelic Spirits of Nature), and I walk with God almighty. They are all I have, and they are all I need with me.

As I was waking across the Williamsburg Bridge into Brooklyn, I notice many different tags of graffiti on the beams as well as on the bridge itself. There was one tag in particular that caught and held my attention. It was simply written, nothing extravagant. Just as if it were written on paper.


It made me think of the deck of Tarot Cards I have and began reading with. I began using Tarot Cards (Thoth Tarot Deck) to tap deeper into the energy of my Ancestors, as well as the energy of my guardian Orisha, which is Eshu-Elegba, or Eleggua, as he is known in the Afro Cuban branch of "The Religion" in which I practice. He is the Guardian of The Crossroads, he opens and closes the paths. He is fate, he is destiny, he is choice, and he is my guardian Orisha. I had to stop and photograph it, feeling like it was speaking to me, and it spoke volumes. I came across a second as I continued walking, but the first one spoke the loudest.



I finally made it home over an hour later, what felt like forever. Staying on my feet long enough to shower, before collapsing into bed. I woke up the next day to look at the photos I took. Of course keeping the first one I took, as stated before. I never thought that something so simply written, can say so much.